Canon SX410 vs Olympus E-M5

The Canon PowerShot SX410 IS and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2015 and February 2012. The SX410 is a fixed lens compact, while the E-M5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX410) and a Four Thirds (E-M5) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 19.9 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon SX410		Olympus E-M5
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
24-960mm f/3.5-5.6		Micro Four Thirds lenses
19.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		15.9 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
720/30p Video		1080/60i Video
ISO 100-1,600		ISO 200-25,600
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0 LCD, 230k dots		3.0 LCD, 610k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
0.5 shutter flaps per second		9 shutter flaps per second
Lens-based stabilization		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
185 shots per battery charge		360 shots per battery charge
104 x 69 x 85 mm, 325 g		122 x 89 x 43 mm, 425 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX410 IS and the Olympus OM-D E-M5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX410 and the Olympus E-M5. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX410 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the E-M5 is also available in two color-versions, but different ones (black, silver).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-M5 is considerably larger (51 percent) than the Canon SX410. It is noteworthy in this context that the E-M5 is splash and dust-proof, while the SX410 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX410 has a lens built in, whereas the E-M5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-M5 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the SX410 gets 185 shots out of its NB-11LH battery, while the E-M5 can take 360 images on a single charge of its BLN-1 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279
2.		Olympus E-M5	122 mm	89 mm	43 mm	425 g	360	Y	Feb 2012	1,299
3.		Canon SX430	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	323 g	195	n	Jan 2017	299
4.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399
5.		Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	699
6.		Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	299
7.		Canon SX620	97 mm	57 mm	28 mm	182 g	295	n	May 2016	279
8.		Canon SX720	110 mm	64 mm	36 mm	270 g	250	n	Feb 2016	379
9.		Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799
10.		Canon SX610	105 mm	61 mm	27 mm	191 g	270	n	Jan 2015	249
11.		Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	349
12.		Canon SX400	104 mm	69 mm	80 mm	313 g	190	n	Jul 2014	249
13.		Olympus PEN-F	125 mm	72 mm	37 mm	427 g	330	n	Jan 2016	1,199
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	124 mm	85 mm	45 mm	469 g	310	Y	Feb 2015	1,099
15.		Olympus E-M1	130 mm	94 mm	63 mm	497 g	350	Y	Sep 2013	1,399
16.		Olympus E-P5	122 mm	69 mm	37 mm	420 g	330	n	May 2013	999
17.		Panasonic GX7	123 mm	71 mm	55 mm	402 g	350	n	Aug 2013	999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX410 was launched at a lower price than the E-M5, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX410 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Olympus E-M5 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-M5 is 704 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.0. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon SX410 offers a higher resolution of 19.9 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the Olympus E-M5. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.19μm versus 3.76μm for the E-M5). However, it should be noted that the SX410 is much more recent (by 2 years and 11 months) than the E-M5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the SX410 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon SX410 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX410 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.8 x 19.3 inches or 65.4 x 49.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.6 x 15.5 inches or 52.3 x 39.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.2 x 12.9 inches or 43.6 x 32.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-M5 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX410 IS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	..	..	..	..
2.		Olympus E-M5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	22.8	12.3	826	71
3.		Canon SX430	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
5.		Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
6.		Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	..	..	..	..
7.		Canon SX620	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Canon SX720	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
9.		Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
10.		Canon SX610	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
11.		Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
12.		Canon SX400	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	720/30p	..	..	..	..
13.		Olympus PEN-F	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	23.1	12.4	894	74
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.0	12.5	842	73
15.		Olympus E-M1	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	23.0	12.7	757	73
16.		Olympus E-P5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.8	12.4	895	72
17.		Panasonic GX7	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	22.6	12.2	718	70

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the E-M5 provides a better video resolution than the SX410. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Canon is limited to 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M5 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX410 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon SX410 and Olympus E-M5 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
2.		Olympus E-M5	1440	n	3.0	610	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	n	Y
3.		Canon SX430	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
5.		Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0	Y	Y
6.		Canon SX420	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX620	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX720	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
9.		Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
10.		Canon SX610	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/2000s	2.5	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX710	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0	Y	Y
12.		Canon SX400	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/1600s	0.8	Y	Y
13.		Olympus PEN-F	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
15.		Olympus E-M1	2360	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
16.		Olympus E-P5	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic GX7	2760	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/8000s	5.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The SX410 has one, while the E-M5 does not. While the built-in flash of the SX410 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the SX410 and the E-M5 write their files to SDXC cards. The E-M5 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the SX410 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX410 IS and Olympus OM-D E-M5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon SX410	-	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Olympus E-M5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon SX430	-	mono	mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon SX730	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
5.		Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon SX420	-	mono	mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon SX620	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon SX720	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon G5 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon SX610	-	-	-	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Canon SX710	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Canon SX400	-	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus PEN-F	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Olympus E-M1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Olympus E-P5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
17.		Panasonic GX7	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the E-M5 has a hotshoe, which makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun. The SX410 does not feature such an accessory-socket.

Both the SX410 and the E-M5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The E-M5 was replaced by the Olympus E-M5 II, while the SX410 was followed by the Canon SX420. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Olympus websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon SX410 or the Olympus E-M5 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX410 IS:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (19.9 vs 15.9MP) with a 12% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the E-M5 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (104x69mm vs 122x89mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the E-M5).
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 11 months of technical progress since the E-M5 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus OM-D E-M5:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (610k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 0.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (360 versus 185) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2012).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M5 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX410 and the Olympus E-M5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the SX410 and the E-M5 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279
2.		Olympus E-M5	4/5	+ +	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2012	1,299
3.		Canon SX430	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2017	299
4.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	399
5.		Canon G7 X Mark II	4.5/5	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	699
6.		Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	299
7.		Canon SX620	..	..	..	..	4/5	May 2016	279
8.		Canon SX720	..	+	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	379
9.		Canon G5 X	5/5	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799
10.		Canon SX610	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2015	249
11.		Canon SX710	..	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2015	349
12.		Canon SX400	..	+	..	..	..	Jul 2014	249
13.		Olympus PEN-F	..	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,199
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	5/5	+ +	81/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2015	1,099
15.		Olympus E-M1	5/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2013	1,399
16.		Olympus E-P5	5/5	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2013	999
17.		Panasonic GX7	4/5	+	79/100	5/5	5/5	Aug 2013	999
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

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Specifications: Canon SX410 vs Olympus E-M5

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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